chirographer
(kaɪˈrɒgrəfə(r))
Also 6 cyro-, 6–7 ciro-, chyro-.
[partly ad. F. chirographaire, ad. late L. chīrographārius; partly Eng. formation like geograph-er and the like.]
1. Law. The officer appointed to ‘engross fines’ (chirographs), in the Court of Common Pleas. (Abolished in 1833.)
| [1285 Act 13 Edw. I, c. 44 De Cirographariis pro cirographo faciendo.] 1400 Act 2 Hen. IV, c. 8 §1 Loffice de Cirogrofer en la Comone bank du Roi est lessez a ferme. a 1577 Sir T. Smith Commw. Eng. (1609) 64 The Cirographer..maketh Indentures tripertite. 1581 Act 23 Eliz. c. 3 § 7 The Chirographer of Fynes of the Common Plees for the tyme being. 1594 West Symbol. ii. §61 Delivered to the Cyrographer of fines to be ingrossed and proclaimed. 1688 R. Holme Armoury iii. 62/1 In the Courts of Common Pleas..the Chyrographer doth Enter and Ingrose Fines acknowledged. 1767 Blackstone Comm. II. 351 There are indentures made, or engrossed, at the chirographer's office, and delivered to the cognizor and the cognizee. 1845 Ld. Campbell Chancellors (1857) II. xxxviii. 144 The wealthy sinecure of Chirographer of the Common Pleas. |
2. ‘He that exercises or professes the art or business of handwriting’ (Johnson, 1755); a copying clerk.
| 1845 Bachel. Albany 216 The seedy and dilapidated appearance of the old chirographer. |